Coronado Yacht Club Hunting For History

IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 100TH YEAR, CORONADO YACHT CLUB IS TURNING TO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP FIND IMAGES FROM THEIR PAST

CORONADO – The Coronado Yacht Club has been around since 1913, minus a few war years. During that time the club has become an integral part of Coronado society, a breeding ground for yachting champions, and a major part of Coronado’s history.

 That last word, history, is what they are most concerned with at the moment. Coronado Yacht Club Commodore Richard Odiorne is asking for help in locating pieces of CYC history – photos, film, boat nameboards, ships’ wheels, or any yachting memorabilia that might help tell the story of Coronado’s yachting history through the Roaring Twenties, two world wars and the Great Depression.

 The search to find the missing pieces of the CYC puzzle comes at a special time. Coronado Yacht Club celebrates a century of service to Coronado this year, and Commodore Odiorne is hoping to more historic images from CYC’s past, and have them on display during Opening Day ceremonies in May.

 “We have numerous photographs and old films in our archive,” said Odiorne, “but there are major gaps in our history we would like to acquire. At present we are working closely with several area museums and libraries to compare notes and see what we have that they might need, and to see if they can help us fill in the blanks.”

 Part of this recent search for CYC history has resulted in an upcoming exhibit at the Coronado Museum of History & Art recognizing 100 years of organized yachting in Coronado.

 “This request,” says Odiorne, “goes out to people on both sides of the Coronado Bridge and throughout the South Bay, and CYC is asking for everyone to stop for a moment and take a look at what they have stored away in their family photo albums, and old boxes that might be forgotten in attics, basements, closets and garages.”

 The yacht club is interested in any photos that capture the early yacht club itself, visiting boats, regattas, or activity in general on Glorietta Bay.

 Technology being what it is today, the original images do not have to be donated. “We would be very happy to scan those images,” said Odiorne, “which allows us to duplicate a permanent, electronic record of the photo should the family not want to give up family treasures.”

 The history of the yacht club includes thousands of regattas, and tens of thousands of visitors to Tent City and the Hotel del Coronado, famous movie star sailors such as Errol Flynn and William Holden, and the colorful Rainbow Fleet of the 1930s. The yacht club itself has had a few locations and headquarters over the past 100 years, including the historic Boathouse 1887.

 Recreational yachting began in San Diego Bay and Glorietta Bay at the dawn of the 20^th century, as wealthy businessmen would rent the fishing sloops on Sundays for friendly competition. The fishing sloops, like the 1902 Butcher Boy, were the fastest things on the water. They had to be, because the first boat to the fishing grounds and back got the best price at market.

 For more information on donating images, artifacts and/or ephemera celebrating 100 years of yachting in Coronado, contact Commodore Rick Odiorne, Coronado Yacht Club, 1631 Strand Way, odiorne3@gmail.com, or call (619) 435-1848.

This story was created by Joe Ditler and Part-Time PR, serving all of Coronado's publicity needs. To share your story, write or call, josephditler@san.rr.com or (619) 435-0767.